Candida fungi cause common infections and form tough biofilms that resist treatment. These fungi stick to body surfaces using proteins called adhesins that form amyloid-like structures. Researchers found that special peptides can block these amyloid structures in several Candida species, preventing them from sticking to cells and potentially offering a new way to fight these infections.
Researchers in Japan discovered that a dangerous fungus called Aspergillus latus, previously unknown in the country, has been causing infections since at least 2013. This fungus is difficult to identify because it looks similar to other related species and is actually a hybrid created from two different Aspergillus species. The study found seven cases of this fungus in clinical samples and discovered that it is resistant to some common antifungal medications, making accurate identification crucial for proper patient treatment.
Researchers discovered that summer heat makes oyster mushroom crops more vulnerable to green mold disease caused by a fungus called Trichoderma asperellum. When exposed to high temperatures (36°C), the pathogenic fungus becomes more aggressive by producing more spores, germinating faster, and generating molecules like hydrogen peroxide that damage the mushroom mycelia. Meanwhile, the oyster mushroom itself becomes more susceptible to infection at these higher temperatures, explaining why green mold outbreaks are so common during hot summer months in mushroom farms.
A 61-year-old farmer with kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis developed a rare fungal infection caused by Fusarium, a fungus found in soil and water. After initial antibiotics failed, doctors identified the fungus and switched to an antifungal medication called voriconazole. By carefully monitoring drug levels in the patient’s blood and adjusting doses, pharmacists helped achieve a successful recovery with complete resolution of symptoms.
Coccidioidomycosis, a fungal lung disease traditionally found in desert regions of Mexico and the southwestern United States, is spreading to new areas where it was never seen before. Researchers tracked 122 cases between 1991 and 2023 and found that nearly half of the patients had no history of travel to known high-risk areas, suggesting the disease is becoming established in new locations. Climate change and drought conditions are likely helping the fungus expand its range, making it important for doctors everywhere to consider this disease when diagnosing respiratory infections.
Scientists discovered that when a dangerous fungus called Aspergillus terreus is grown together with immune cells, it produces a special compound called butyrolactone Ia that helps it hide from the body’s defense system. This compound works by reducing inflammatory signals that immune cells use to fight the fungus. The research shows that direct contact between the fungus and immune cells is needed to trigger this protective compound production, suggesting the fungus responds directly to the threat of immune attack.
Scientists optimized the process for breaking down fungal proteins from Cryptococcus neoformans, a dangerous fungus that infects humans. By testing different digestion times and temperatures, they found that shortening the process from overnight to just 1 hour still yielded excellent results. This discovery helps researchers study this pathogen more efficiently and could lead to better treatments for cryptococcal infections.
When fungi like Cryptococcus neoformans infect humans, they face dramatically higher levels of carbon dioxide in the body compared to the environment. This research shows that the ability to tolerate this higher CO2 is a key virulence factor that helps the fungus cause disease. Scientists discovered that clinical isolates from infected patients are generally better at tolerating CO2 than environmental strains, and this tolerance correlates with how severe infections become.
This study evaluates a new microwave device (Swift System) as a potential treatment for fungal nail infections (onychomycosis). The device uses microwave energy to heat and eliminate fungal infections directly at the nail site, avoiding the side effects of oral medications. Researchers tested three different treatment schedules in 39 patients over 12 months to find the most effective dosing approach.
Researchers in Mexico discovered that a wood-decay fungus called Trametes hirsuta is infecting avocado trees in the country’s main avocado-growing region, Michoacán. The fungus causes a disease called white rot, which leads to yellowing leaves, tree defoliation, and eventually tree death. This is the first time this fungus has been identified as a disease-causing agent in avocado trees, and the researchers confirmed through laboratory tests that the fungus is indeed responsible for the damage being observed in avocado orchards.